Girls golf: Wallace edges Fremd’s Brazeau for MSL crown, leads Barrington to team title

Barrington’s Reese Wallace loves the thinking part of golf. So much so that she plans to major in sports psychology when she enrolls at TCU next year on a golf scholarship.

Wallace’s play on the course is high level as well. She shot a four-under 66 to win medalist honors at the MSL girls golf championship Thursday at Fox Run in Elk Grove.

“When I was young, my mental game wasn’t as strong as it is now,” said Wallace, who had five birdies, including a chip-in on the seventh hole.

“I think the experiences that we learn along the way are really important to that. I try to keep as positive as possible and keep a good strategy out there.”

Wallace was just able to hold off Fremd’s Alia Brazeau, who was one stroke back with a three-under 67.

Brazeau also had five birdies, but she had two bogies to Wallace’s one.

“I was hitting the ball great,” Brazeau said. “My driver wasn’t the best today, so I changed to a three-wood, and I was putting it straight down the middle.”

Conant’s Madeline Gutierrez, who also is hoping to play in college, finished third with a one-under 69.

“My drives were pretty consistent,” Gutierrez said. “My putting was good, but I left a couple short. Overall, it was pretty good day.”

Barrington’s Teagan Carden was fourth with a 72. Her teammate, Addison Yoon, who is a freshman, finished fifth with a 77.

Hersey’s Serena Joseph and Fremd’s Cara Spahic tied for sixth with 78s, Prospect’s Peyton Camardella was eighth with an 81 while Barrington’s Olivia Yoon and Fremd’s Kathy Lee tied for ninth with 82s.

Barrington won the MSL girls team title at 297. The Fillies, who beat Fremd in a playoff last year for the title, had four golfers in the top 10 along with Zuzanna Michalski, who was 15th with a 90 and Phoenix Hernandez, who was 20th at 92.

“These seniors wanted to start a new streak,” Barrington coach Tim Martin said. “It was a master class today from our seniors.”

Fremd was second at 319. Both teams will be at the Bonnie Dundee regional next Tuesday. The Vikings were led by Brazeau, Spahic and Lee along with Kaitlyn Cheong’s 92.

“We knew we had to play flawlessly,” Fremd coach Jeremy Malinowski said. “And Barrington had to find some trouble. Barrington did what they needed to do.”

Conant fought its way to third place with a 345, two strokes better than Prospect’s 347. Conant, which will be back at Fox Run next Tuesday for regionals, was led by Gutierrez, Riya Cheriyan’s 88, Tara O’Mahoney’s 93 and Santina Papucci’s 95.

“We are thrilled with our finish,” Conant coach Megan Hebert said. “Maddie being a one and going super low helped our team. We are still working on getting everyone to perform well on the same day.”

Prospect came up a little short of the top three. Camardella, Madeline Bielecki (11th place, 84) Aribelle Torres (91) and Evie Thomas (91) scored for the Knights.

Hersey was fifth (350) led by Joseph while Buffalo Grove was sixth (365) led by Abbey Foster’s 90.